Adjustable strap for gun-slings and the like.



C. F. RANDALL.

ADJUSTABLE STRAP FOR GUN SLINGS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 14, 1915.

1,186,496. Patented June 6,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I M62522 ass Inventor:

C. F. RANDALL. ADJUSTABLE STRAP FOR GUN SLINGS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT-14.1915.

I 1,186,496. Patented June 6, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- wax L635.- I 8M5 M m FM THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON D c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. RANDALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASS-IGNOR TO MILLS WOVEN I CARTRIDGE BELT COMPANY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

ADJUSTABLE STRAP FOR GUN-SLINGS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1916 Application filed September 14, 1915. Serial No. 50,709.

which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has relation to adjustable straps of the differential class. In general, an article of such class heretofore has comprised a strip of material, for instance webbing or leather, that is doubled back upon itself lengthwise to produce opposite terminal return bends, with a link that is attached to a return portion of one of such bends engaged, after the fashion in. which a pulley engages in the bend or bight of a rope, with an intermediate return bend formed in a return portion of the opposing terminal return-bend. The assembled or made-up strap in its entirety constitutes a closed loop and has the characteristic that its effective length between one terminal return-bend and the other may be increased or reduced at will through the differential action accompanying a shift of the intermediate return-bend toward one terminal return-bend or the other as the case may be.

The invention is applicable in the case of adjustable straps used as suspensory or con nector straps for a variety of purposes, and it consists in an improved adjustable strap of the differential class comprising a novel combination and arrangement of flexible strip, links, etc.

The drawings show an embodiment of the invention in a gun-sling having the typical features of the class of straps referred to, but distinctively characterized, and possessed of its own special features.

In the said drawings, Figures 1 and 2 represent such sling applied to a rifle. In Fig. 1 the sling is represented in shortened and tight condition, and in Fig. 2 it is represented in extended and loose condition. Fig. 3 is an edge view of the strap in its shortened state, detached and on a larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2, with portions broken out in order to shorten the view.

-Fig. t is a face view of the strap as shown strap in extended state and bent or curved, also with portions broken out.

Referring to the drawings :In conformity with the invention, the two terminal return-bends, 1, 2, are produced in the respective end-portions of the strip by doubling each end-portion back upon itself, and

there are two intermediate return-bends, 3,

4, produced by doubling the intermediate portion of the, strip back and forth upon itself, first in one direction to produce bend 3 facing terminal bend l, and then in the other direction to produce bend 4 facing terminal bend 2. The doubled-back extremities, each constituting one side of a terminal return-bend, are engaged with the intermediate return-bends so that thereby the two intermediate return-bends are extended, respectively, in opposite directions. In this instance the engagement is effected detachably by means of snap-hooks 5, 6, taking hold of links 7, 8, applied to such returnbends. Thus, the extremity 9 which constitutes one side of the return-bend 1 is provided with a snap-hook 5 that takes hold of link 7 applied to one intermediate returnbend, 3, and the opposite extremity, 10, also is provided with a snap-hook 6 that takes hold of link 8 applied to. the other intermediate return-bend, 4. This detachable engagement of the two extremities of the the effective length of the strap, while the.

engagement between the other extremity and the corresponding intermediate returnbend is non-slipping, so as to reduce the amount of manipulationrequiredin applying and adjusting the'strap. In the illus-' trated embodiment the link 8 is a simple link, around one bar of which the intermediate return-bend 4c is looped, so that the strip may readily be drawn lengthwise through the opening of such link, in adjusting the effective length of the strap. The link 7 is a double link with two openings and a middle bar around which the intermediate return-bend is looped. Snap-hook 5 is engaged with one outside cross-bar of the link-7, and the effect of strain is to cause the said link to tend to assume a position in which the middle bar is in the line of strain. This causes the other outside cross-bar thereof to bear against an adjoining portion of the strip thereby bending the return-bend bodily more or less around the middle bar, producing friction which opposes movement of the strip lengthwise through the link.

In making use of the strap the respective terminal return-bends are conjoined with suitable connector-means, according to the purpose which the strap is designed to subserve and the place and manner of application. For instance, in the present embodiment the upper terminal return-bend, 1, is looped through the upper gun-swivel 11, Figs. 1 and 2, such gun-swivel constituting in this case a connector-means for such terminal return-bend, and the lower terminal return-bend, 2, is looped through the lower gun-swivel, 12, which constitutes a connector-means for such terminal return-bend. The connector-means may be combined, engaged, or formed with the desired object or objects as here shown, or may be links, hooks, eyes, or other engaging devices that are attached or applied to the terminal return-bends, and in the latter case they may be adapted to engage with the desired objects, or with each other, as may be necessary or desired. In case the connector-devices 11 and 12 are not themselves parts of the adjustable strap, taking the latter as a whole, I preferably make the engagement of the respective end-portions of the strip with the intermediate return-bends 3 and 4 of a readily disconnectible. and reconnectible character, as herein, so as to facilitate connection of the terminal return-bends with the connector-devices, as well as disconnection therefrom, and thereby provide for convenient application and removal of the strap in making use of the same.

The effective length of the strap is determined by the proportion of the length of the strip that is taken up by and between the two intermediate bends, and may be varied at will by making adjustment of the intermediate returnbends toward or fromv each other.

Assuming the strap to be applied as in Fig. 1, and to be in shortened and taut con dition as in such figure, its effective length may be made greater by manipulation which will cause intermediate return-bend 3 to shift from its position in Fig. 1 toward the terminal return-bend 2. This shift may be caused to occur by taking hold of the link 7 and moving it bodily toward the said terminal return-bend, and such movement may if desired be continued until the two links 7 and 8 come together. It will be observed that :in Figs. 2 and 5 in which such links are close together the length of the extendedstrap is practically the maximum attainable with a given length of material doubled upon itself. The same shift inay be effected by taking hold of one or both of the por-' tions of intermediate return-bend 3 below link 7 and pulling the same toward terminal return-bend 2, or by taking hold of the portion extending from intermediate return-- bend 4: toward terminal return-bend land pulling upon the said portion toward the latter terminal return-bend. Then the effective length of the strap exceeds the minimum, the said effective length will be reduced, and the strap may be tightened, by pulling in the reverse direction to that before mentioned in the case of the link 7 or of the respective portions of the strip.

It will be observed that the illustrated construction permits the strap to be disconnected quickly from the gun and opened out to the full length of the strip, thereby enabling the strip to be used in such condition whenever required.

The invention is not necessarily restricted to the use of a fiat strip of material.

The link 7 has been referred to as providing for non-slipping engagement between extremity 9 of the strip and intermediate return-bend 3. Its construction, however,

does not preclude it from being shifted at tively engaged with the respective intermediate return-bends, said intermediate return-bends adjustable to vary the amount of strip taken up thereby, and the eifecti-ve length of the strap.

2. .An adjustable strap of the differential class, comprising a strip having two terminal return-bends produced by doubling each end-portion back upon itself, and also having two intermediate return-bends produced by doubling the intermediate portion of the strip back and forth upon itself, first in one direction to produce one of the latter returnbends and then in the other to produce the other thereof, with its extremities respectively engaged detachably with the respecbends and then in the other to produce the other thereof, and links with which, respectively, the said intermediate return bends respectively are engaged, and with the eX- tremities of the said strip respectively engaged with the said links.

4. An adjustable strap of the differential class, comprising a strip having two terminal return-bends produced by doubling each end-portion back upon itself, and also having two intermediate return-bends produced by doubling the intermediate portion of the strip back and forth upon itself, first in one direction to produce one of the latter returnbends and then in the other to produce the other thereof, and links with which, respectively, the said intermediate return-bends respectively are engaged detachably, and with the extremities of the said strip respectively engaged with the said links.

5. An adjustable strap of the differential class, comprising a strip having two terminal return-bends produced by doubling each end-portion back upon itself, and also having two intermediate return-bends produced by doubling the intermediate portion of the strip back and forth upon itself, first in one direction to produce one of the latter returnbends. and then in the other to produce the other thereof, with a slipping link engaged with one of said intermediate return-bends and a non-slipping link engaged with the other thereof, and with the extremities of paid strip respectively engaged with the said inks.

6. An adjustable strap of the differential class, comprising a strip having two terminal return-bends produced by doubling each end-portion back upon itself, and also having two intermediate return-bends produced by doubling the intermediate portion of the strip back and forth upon itself, first in one direction to produce one of the latter returnbends and then in the other to produce the other thereof, with a slipping link engaged with one of said intermediate return-bends and a non-slipping link engaged with the other thereof, and with the extremities of said strip respectively engaged detachably with the said links.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES F. RANDALL. WVitnesses ELLEN 0. SPRING, OSCAR F. HILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

